Immigration is Canada’s greatest goals, but it has always struggled in attracting skilled economic immigrants in less popular provinces, especially, Atlantic Canada. Most of the candidates selected through the Express Entry program choose to settle in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec because opportunities are the most in these provinces. However, the Provincial Nominee Programs have worked successfully towards attracting immigrants in Atlantic and Prairie Canada.

According to a federal review conducted by the Immigration Department, 76 percent immigrants who came to Canada between 2010 and 2015 settled in the three provinces mentioned above. However, the percentage of immigrants admitted through Provincial Nominee Programs increased from 10 in 2010 to 25 percent to 2015. The program aims at attracting immigrants to provinces other than British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec and filling up local job requirements. The Canadian government has, therefore, ensured that processing of applications of provincial nominee programs for Atlantic and Prairie Canada is faster than the rest.

These provinces don’t have any issue with attracting immigrants but with retaining them. They study at universities and colleges in these provinces as the tuition fees and cost of living is cheaper and move to popular provinces after getting a job. However, provincial nominee programs have reduced the losses and encouraged the government to increase immigrant target from 51,000 in 2017 to 67,800 in 2020, a 33 percent increase.

University degrees

According to the report, 54 percent immigrants who settle in Canada between 2010 and 2015 had a university degree, three percent more than those who came between 2005 and 2009. It was also found that those selected through provincial nominee programs had occupational backgrounds in skilled trades and technical fields, whereas those selected in the federal Express Entry program had skills for professional and managerial jobs. People in all categories are needed at the provincial level, and the problem needs to be acknowledged so that a solution can be found.